Negative glowlamp



ne of said electrodes being disposed, in p81't, in proxin1ity to another electrode, the mmimum spacing of the electrodes heing such that the volt8ge required to iflitiate al discharge th0ugh the lamp is materiauy lowel' than the arcing volta.ge of said lamp 4- A glow dischar e lam of the negative glow ty e operable with a stable electrica1 discharge direcuy on a n approximately 110 volt alte1'nat ing current 1ighting circuit comp1'ising an envelope, an atn10sphere of neon therei!1, a.t a' Te duced ressure, a lurality of electrodes therein, at least one of which is com osed, at least in p8rt, of thoriun1 metal, one of said electrodes being disposed from said other electrode at a distance of about one mimmeter, the discharge initiating and 0perati1g potentials of said de vice being no greater than the peak voltage of said 1ightin circuit but the arcing otenti l of s8id device being greatet than the peak voltage of said lighting circuit 5. A glow discharge lamp of the negative glow type 0per9ble with stable electrical discharge directly on an approximately 110 volt a1ter nEting current lighting circuit comprising an envelope, Etmosphere of neon therein alt a plessure of from three to thi1'ty n1illin1eters of mercury, plurauty of electrodes therein at least one of which is composed, in part, 0f thorlunn, one of said electrodes being dis osed from another electrode at e distance of about one |1illin1ete', the discha,ge initigting 3.nd op erating potentials of said lamp heing no greater thgn the peak volta,ge of said circtlit but the grclng voltage of s8id device being greater than the pak volt8ge of said ughting ccuit.

6. gaseous conduction lamp comprising a n envelope contaizjng a rare gas at a substantia1 pressu1`e, sa,id gas being selected in accordance with its starting and arcing voltage with e Spect t0 the peak voltage of the circuit in Which it is designed to operate, a cathode 9nd an anode within said envepe, Said cathode consisting of thorium, the discharge i!itiatin and o erating otentialof said device being no greatel than the otential of an approxinlately 110 to 220 volt alternating current 1ighting cicuit but the arcing otenial of said device being greater than the eak otentia1 0f said circuit.

7 A aseous conduction lam con1 rising an envelope, contajning a Tare gas at a Teduced p1'essure, said gas being selected in accordance with its startiIlg and arcing volta,ge with re Spect t0 the peak voltage 0f the circuit in Which it is designed to op rate 9' cathode and an node therein, Supporting conductors f0' Said anode and cathode, al s1ield extending 9(long substan tiany the entire length of said conductors for restricting discharge to the electrodes, Said` an ode and cathode bemg cylindrical, said cathode being composed of thorium, said anode a nd c8th- 0de being close together at one end to facilit8te starting and being much farther 8part 9t the other end, the discharge aLnd i11itlati:1g oten tials of Sa'id lamp being 110 greater thn the peak voltage 0f an approxinlately 110 to 220 volt alternatg cuIrent ughting cil'cuit but the arcing potentigl of said device being greater than the eak otential of said circuit HARVEY C RENTSCE1!ER. DONALD E. IENT. 

